While I loved documenting every single discussing last week, I realized that my enthusiasm made for too many journal entries! This week, I’m aiming for a more focused and concise approach.
Expanding Scope & Project Deliverables
This week, our team broadened the project scope to address the widespread impact of automation of various work sectors. This decision was made as we touched on how tech-driven displacement is not only isolated in the hospitality sector.
We’ve decided a multi-pronged approached for our speculative project:
– Website: Our core platform, integrate Google Analytics to track engagement across the site.
– AI-Generated Video: Using AI tools to highlight AI’s impact on work. Oh the irony!
– “Future Canteen” Social Media: Posts from 2035 depicting the normalized integration of machines in the workspace (e.g., “John the Auto Fryer”).
– Physical Elements: 2.5D kitchen visualization, mock job flyers for roles like “Food Engineer,” adding interactive elements to our scenario.
Primary Research: Expert Interview
The interview process adhered to the Code of Practice principle of informed consent, ensuring the participant was fully aware of the project’s purpose and the use of their insights (University of the Arts London, 2020).
My interview with Ian Yang, Senior Design Manager at ASUS, provided valuable perspectives on AI’s influence in the design sector. Key takeaways include:
– Efficiency vs. Control: AI significantly speeds up execution but designers remain crucial. As Ian stated, “At best it (AI) gets the job done at 60%, the rest of the 40% I will require another designer to fine tune it.”
– Priority on Upskilling: According to Ian, parts of the industry are starting to expect designers to be proficient in AI tools, potentially creating a divide between those who adapt and those who don’t.
– The Human Edge: Ian pointed out that industry knowledge and creative thinking are irreplaceable: “The most important factor to cause me to think this is probably work experience, industry experience, you need to know the ins and outs…”
Reflection & Next Steps
Ian’s insights confirm that the concerns we’re exploring extends beyond hospitality. His emphasis on proactive upskilling raises ethical questions: How can we ensure this technological transition is inclusive, and that no worker is left behind? (This could be a great topic for our Unit 4 project!). Currently, I think our team is well-positioned with a division of tasks based on our different expertise. Now, we focus on our primary website and AI-generated video deliverables.
References
University of the Arts London. (2020). Code of Practice on Research Ethics. https://www.arts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/43328/UAL-Code-of-Practice-on-Research-Ethics-October-2020.pdf [Accessed: February 27, 2024]